“Close your eyes!”

“They’ll take control of you if you look into them!”

“Whatever you do, don’t look!”

Yelena went past the people who were shouting with their eyes shut. She looked down as she clung to the wall.

‘There it is.’

Among the black demons, she could see a creature with piercing red eyes.

Anyone who met its eyes lost their wits and were manipulated to attack their allies.

Except for one person: Yelena.

Yelena threw the spear that had been in her hand after feeding it divine power.

Whip!

The spear, only half the length of a regular spear, flew exactly toward its target and pierced the enemy’s heart. Then, as if it had a mind of its own, it returned to Yelena’s hand.

“The duchess has done away with the red eyes!”

“Wow!”

Amidst the cheers, Yelena just barely managed to keep from sinking down, forcing herself to stay standing. Her legs shook and her mind was blank as if her blood wasn’t circulating properly.

‘I only used this relic once…’

In the past, she had been able to use relics at least twice, thrice even, depending on the relic. But she was already exhausted from one use.

Yelena clenched her teeth. The moment she did, she heard someone shouting.

“It’s a flying monster!”

Yelena turned her head, following the sound. Her expression darkened. Flying in the sky, was a group of about 10 demons of a new species.

“Madam, please head inside.”

“We’ll handle this.”

The three knights surrounded Yelena, as if to guard her.

Yelena nodded her head compliantly. She had almost no strength left in her body. She was probably about to faint. She would only get in the way if she were to stay.

Just as Yelena turned around to escape from the fortress, a demon that was wandering in the air flew towards her.

“…!”

Max rushed to raise his sword.

At that moment.

Hrrrrip!

The demon burst into flames in front of everyone.

“Yelena! Are you okay?” A familiar voice asked.

Yelena blinked her widened eyes.

The person who had suddenly burnt the demon to a crisp was someone she knew too well.

“Aendy?”

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

Aendydn studied Yelena as he stood in front of her. He waved his hand. Then, a few more demons that were hovering overhead caught on fire as well.

Yelena stared blankly at Aendydn.

“Whew, you look safe. But why are you so pale?”

“Aendy, how did you…”

“I came for you.”

“You came for me?”

“Yes. I’m sorry I’m late. I was evacuating my family… I could have come sooner.”

That wasn’t the problem.

“How did you know?” Yelena asked.

“What?”

“How did you know I was here? You couldn’t have possibly known I was here…”

“Did you forget? I have Sylphie.”

Sylphie was the name of the wind spirit.

“Sylphie can go wherever there is wind. With Sylphie’s help, locating you is a piece of ca—”

“Aendy!”

Yelena grabbed Aendydn.

Her heart was racing like crazy.

A miracle. A miracle had appeared before her.

In that moment, Yelena’s mind was filled to the brim with the image of the person she longed to see the most. Her eyes welled with tears, but she managed to fight them.

Tears welled up, but I managed to suppress my emotions.

Yelena looked into Aendydn’s eyes and opened her mouth.

“Help me out.”

***

These days, the  heart of the youngest son of Count Penelle, Noenza Penelle, raced tremendously. All because of one person.

‘The duchess.’

No.

‘…Yelena.’

When he had first seen Yelena, he thought his heart had stopped because she was so beautiful.

Silver hair that fell like it was woven with moonlight. Damp pink eyes that were filled with the breath of spring.

Noenza had realized it the moment he met her eyes. That she was his ideal type that he dreamt of his whole life.

‘I fell in love at first sight.’

He gazed out the window with a distant look. His cheeks were tinted pink. But the excitement of love quickly sank down to the floor.

‘I can’t relay my feelings anyway…’

Yelena, who had stolen his heart, was already married to another man, a duke, no less. Noenza Penelle, the mere son of a count, was no match for him.

‘Tch.’

Noenza sighed, his chin resting on his arms that were propped up on the windowsill.

“Haa.”

Then, he suddenly widened his eyes that had been lowered sadly.

“Wait a minute.”

He had a startling idea.

‘Her husband, Duke Mayhard, went off to war, didn’t he?’

And now, there was a monster invasion coming from all sides.

‘…He could be dead.’

The battlefield was dangerous enough in itself. But what if monsters were to appear in such a place?

‘Yes, he must be dead!’

It was a cruel thought, but the man was honestly more likely to be dead than alive.

Noenza’s face brightened. His heart thumped rapidly inside his chest.

‘Th-this is no time for this.’

Noenza scrambled away from the window.

‘I need to win the duchess… no, Yelena’s favor.’